Digital Entertainment Network

DEN produced and distributed a number of programs aimed at specific young male demographics. That included [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umNuvwNO_pQ Chad's World], which targeted gay viewers and included Seann William Scott in the cast, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ChYFpWcDgw Tales from the Eastside], which targeted Latinos, The Chang Gang, which targeted Asians, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nEibWaoJIQ Redemption High] which starred Judge Reinhold and targeted Christians, Frat Ratz, which targeted frat boys, and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wqlv4iKDw0&list=PLgLq9oqV2o5zP-2bIVhXz8At-_fcydm_p Fear of a Punk Planet], which targeted punks, included Joe Escalante from The Vandals in the cast, and shared a name with the band's 1990 album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0069301/|title=DEN|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-10-23}}

File:Marc Collins-Rector.jpg]]

DEN became indicative of excess in the era of the dot-com bubble, with high pay for executives while not generating any revenues and very little traffic.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/1999/10/01/money-for-nothing-den-pays-execs-big-for-no-revenues/|title=MONEY FOR NOTHING? DEN PAYS EXECS BIG FOR NO REVENUES|last=Angelo|first=Jesse|date=1999-10-01|website=New York Post|access-date=2017-10-20}}

In October 1999, a young man from New Jersey identified only as Jake W. filed a lawsuit alleging that Collins-Rector had sexually molested him for 3 years beginning in 1993 when he was 13-years-old.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-08-fi-49529-story.html|title=Teen Worker Sues DEN, Its Founders on Sex Charges|last=MENN|first=JOSEPH|date=2000-07-08|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} The lawsuit was filed just prior to DEN's scheduled IPO, causing concern among potential investors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1999-11-14/digital-entertainment-network-startup-or-non-starter|title=DEN: Startup Or Non Starter?|last=Grover|first=Ronald|last2=Siklos|first2=Richard|date=1999-11-14|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2017-10-20}} and leading to the resignations of Collins-Rector, Shackley, and Pierce, leaving Ritts in charge{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-04-fi-29613-story.html|title=3 Co-Founders Quit Before DEN IPO|last=DUNN|first=ASHLEY|date=1999-11-04|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

In July 2000, Alex Burton, then an 18-year-old DEN actor, Mark Ryan, a second DEN employee, and an unnamed third plaintiff who was 15 years old at the time, filed suit against Collins-Rector, Shackley and Pierce, alleging rape, assault, and death threats.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-26-fi-59211-story.html|title=3 Former DEN Workers File Suit|last=MENN|first=JOSEPH|date=2000-07-26|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-03-fi-32619-story.html|title=DEN Sex Suit Expanded With Additional Allegations|last=MENN|first=JOSEPH|date=2001-03-03|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} Attorney Jacob Arash Shahbaz, who represented the plaintiffs, indicates that the lawsuit was settled confidentially but the three were reportedly awarded $2,000,030 in a judgment and $1 million in accrued interest in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/the-man-suing-x-men-director-bryan-singer-and-the-actor-who|title=Alleged Bryan Singer Associate Was Sued In 2000 For Sexual Abuse By X-Men Actor|last=Schwarz|first=Hunter|date=2014-04-18|website=Buzzfeed|access-date=2020-07-31}} A renewal of judgment was filed in November 2019 against Collins-Rector and Shackley, citing an additional $4.8 million in accrued interest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bryan-singers-traumatic-x-men-set-movie-created-a-monster-1305081|title=Bryan Singer's Traumatic 'X-Men' Set: The Movie "Created a Monster"|last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|date=2020-07-31|website=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2020-07-31}}

The controversy and turmoil caused by the allegations led DEN to withdraw its IPO and subsequently filed for bankruptcy in August 2000.

In 2014, Michael F. Egan III filed suit, alleging he was sexually assaulted by Goddard, Singer, Neuman, and Ancier at parties hosted by DEN executives{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lawyer-new-bryan-singer-accuser-701413|title=Lawyer for New Bryan Singer Accuser Shows Photos, Says He Has Physical Evidence|last=Handel|first=Jonathan|date=2014-05-05|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-bryan-singer-hollywood-sex-abuse-20140422-story.html|title=Three Hollywood executives deny accusations of teen sex abuse|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|date=2014-04-22|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite news|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/04/garth-ancier-sued-by-bryan-singer-sex-accuser/|title=Three New Men Named By Bryan Singer Sex Accuser In Lawsuit: Former Hollywood Honcho Garth Ancier, Ex-Disney Boss David Neuman & Broadway Producer Gary Goddard|date=2014-04-21|work=Radar Online|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-neuman-new-sex-abuse-711018|title=Sex Abuse Accuser Files New Case Against David Neuman|last=Handel|first=Jonathan|date=2014-06-10|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en}} but the suits against Neuman and Ancier were dropped.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-neuman-sex-abuse-case-709466|title=Sex Abuse Case Against David Neuman Withdrawn|last=Handel|first=Jonathan|date=2014-06-04|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-michael-egan-david-neuman-20140605-story.html|title=Michael Egan drops his sex abuse lawsuit against David Neuman|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|date=2014-06-05|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-garth-ancier-sues-egan-20140627-story.html|title=Garth Ancier sues sex-abuse accuser Michael Egan, attorneys|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|date=2014-06-27|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} Ancier sued Egan and his attorneys, with the attorneys ultimately apologizing to Ancier and Neuman, saying the allegations were false.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-michael-egan-apologies-20150607-story.html|title=Michael Egan's former attorneys apologize for false Hollywood sex abuse claims|last=Sewell|first=Abby|date=2015-06-07|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

Following the bankruptcy of DEN, the company's trustee alleged possible fraudulent sale of assets prior to its bankruptcy.

• An Open Secret, a movie about the sexual abuse at DEN.

{{reflist}}

Category:Defunct online companies of the United States

Category:Streaming television in the United States

Category:Sex scandals in the United States